melinmd

Does anyone out there know of a manufacturer of HDTV receivers that incorporates DVI, OTA, IEEE, and DirectTV in a single STB?? It seems you can find some of these features, but not all of them together?? I am planning to buy a Sony 34XBR800 w/ DVI and am contemplating D-VHS recording, but need a STB with IEEE. Any help would be appreciated.

MrFister

The closest you will come is the Samsung SIR-T165. This is the only one I have found to do OTA with DVI and IEEE plus NTSC. Apparently due to a copywrite fear there is no company which can or will mix Firewire with DirecTV. Other threads will explain exactly why this is if you require more details. Even with C-Band it is nearly impossible to copy in HD. Looks like it is too early in the HDTV game to get what we want. They make DVD recorders, you would think there would not be a problem producing HDTV compatible recording equipment.

57U

On the horizon are cable STBs with firewire/DVI out. You could then record with the D-VHS, or one of the soon to come HD DVRs. HDDVD is still over a year away if not two - still battling over Red or Blue, etc.

I assume that other STBs will soon come along.

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57U - Toronto, Rogers Cable, SA8300HD, 500GB HDD & Hitachi 61UWX10B HDTV, Yamaha RX-V1 A/V Receiver, Martin Logan Speakers. Photos --> 57U's HT

SA8300HD, 250GB HDD & KDL40W3000 (Upstairs)

Please don't PM me with questions that can (and should) be asked in the forum, thanks. Personal Question? Fire away.

melinmd

Since there is not a single STB that will incorporate all the desired features, does having two STBs, that together will have those features, present a problem with connections to a HDTV system?? Other than another "wallet biopsy", is that a crazy plan?

MrFister

I debated for several weeks between the new Sony/Zenith and the Samsung 165 since I have that wallet/wife problem. I really just needed an OTA receiver since I already use a HDD-201 for my C-band HDTV. So the 165 made most sense with it's recording capabilities. However with HDNet going with more channels and ESPN coming aboard in April, I didn't what to place all my eggs in my 4DTV C-band basket. Therefore the DirecTV option started looking more attractive even though I have no plans on using it at the present time. I hope HDNet and ESPN choose at least one of them if not both to deliver their signal. Most of the network programming I watch is sports and usually I always watch it live, thus I figured I would give up the Firewire in hopes to be able to get the programming I want at a later date. So I ordered the Sony HD-200. Anyway about it, even with both receivers you still won't record satellite programs. I am now up to 2 receivers. That would actually give me three and probably a divorce.